INSTANTLY Improve Your Mixes! [Ear Training For Mixing & Music Production]

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through an effective ear training technique that can significantly enhance your mixing skills and music production. By practicing these methods consistently, you’ll improve your ability to identify and manipulate frequencies in your mixes, leading to better sound quality over time.

Step 1: Understand Frequency Associations

Familiarize yourself with the vowel sounds associated with specific frequency ranges. This knowledge will help you recognize issues in your mixes more intuitively.

• 250 Hz corresponds to the vowel sound "ooh"
• 500 Hz corresponds to "oh"
• 1 kHz corresponds to "ah"
• 2 kHz corresponds to "a"
• 4 kHz corresponds to "e"

Practical Tip

Use these vowel sounds as mental cues while mixing. When you hear a certain sound in your mix, try to identify its corresponding frequency using the vowel associations.

Step 2: Practice with a Frequency Analyzer

Utilize a frequency analyzer to visualize the frequencies in your audio. This will help you connect the sounds you hear with their corresponding frequencies.

1. Set up a talk box or a similar device to produce sounds.
2. Make the vowel sounds (e.g., "ah" for 1 kHz) and observe the frequency analyzer.
3. Adjust your sound until it aligns with the target frequency.

Common Pitfall

Avoid over-boosting frequencies, as applying a significant boost (e.g., 12 dB) can lead to a poor-quality sound. Instead, focus on identifying and cutting problematic frequencies.

Step 3: Identify Sibilance

Learn to recognize sibilance, which is the hissing sound associated with "s."

• 8 kHz is where you’ll find a pure "s" sound.
• 16 kHz will have a sharper sibilance, akin to an "s" mixed with a "t."

Practical Application

When mixing vocals, pay attention to sibilance to ensure clarity without harshness. Use your ear training to adjust these frequencies effectively.

Step 4: Explore Low Frequencies

Understand that lower frequencies below 250 Hz may not correlate directly with vowel sounds but are felt as haptic sensations.

• 125 Hz can be felt in the chest.
• 63 Hz can be felt around the abdomen.

Practice Strategy

To develop your sensitivity to low frequencies, listen to music on full-range speakers. Pay close attention to how these frequencies feel physically, as they are often harder to discern on smaller speakers.

Step 5: Listen to Reference Tracks

Regularly listen to well-mixed music on a familiar sound system. This practice helps you build a reference for what balanced sound should feel like.

Actionable Steps

• Create a playlist of your favorite tracks that exemplify great mixing.
• Listen actively, focusing on identifying where each frequency sits within the mix.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you'll develop a stronger understanding of frequency recognition and improve your mixing skills. Consistent practice using the vowel associations and frequency analysis will lead to better mixes. For further guidance, download the free ear training guide provided and consider watching related videos for practical applications of these techniques. Happy mixing!